Coal-fired power plays a critical role in China’s compliance with the Paris Agreement. This research quantifies China’s stranded coal assets under different coal capacity expansion scenarios with an integrated approach and high-precision coal-fired power database. From a top-down perspective, firstly, the pathway of China’s coal-fired power capacity consistent with the global 2°C scenario is outlined and then those stranded coal-fired power plants are identified with a bottom-up perspective. Stranded value is estimated based upon a...

In this work, g-C3N4/ZIF-8 heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesised by the process by which the metal-organic framework ZIF-8 nanoparticles were grown onto the g-C3N4 layer in situ. Bismuth element was doped into the as-prepared g-C3N4/ZIF-8 material and a new type of Bi@g-C3N4/ZIF-8 composite photocatalysts was manufactured, in which the doping element acts in adjusting the bandgap in the photocatalysts. The prepared photocatalysts were characterised by XRD, FESEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS, UV–VIS DRS, photoluminescence and photo-electrochemical experiments....

In an attempt to find species specific markers, a phenoxychromone (1) and eight isoflavonoids including six isoflavans (2-7) and two isoflavanones (8 and 9) were isolated from the root of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Among the isolated phenolic compounds, glycyurelone (1), glycyurelvanins A and B (2 and 3) were found to be undescribed while others, (−)-vestitol (4), conferol A (5), glyasperin C (6), glyasperin D (7), (−)-licoisoflavanone (8), and (−)-3'-(γ,γ-dimethylallyl)kievitone (9) were previously reported. All compounds except...

Two new N-acetyl-ᴅ-glucosamine derivatives, penichryfurans A (1) and B (2), were obtained from the fermentation of an endophytic fungus Penicillium chrysogenum which inhabited the marine medical red alga Grateloupia turuturu. Their structures were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis of 1D and 2D NMR in combination with HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations were determined by the (Mo2(OAc)4)-induced CD and comparison of the calculated and experimental electronic curcular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Both compounds were evaluated for their...

Two previously undescribed triterpenoids (1–2), along with thirteen known compounds (3–15) were isolated from a CHCl3-soluble extract of the leaves of Cyclocarya paliurus. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic approaches. These compounds were assessed for their therapeutic effects on diabetic nephropathy (DN)-evoked fibrosis through High-Glucose and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) challenged HK-2 cells. Among them, compounds 3, 5 and 8 could remarkedly decrease the level of fibronectin to relieve DN...

Two new dimeric and trimeric sesquiterpene lactones (1–2), and nine known sesquiterpene lactones (3–11) were isolated from the EtOAc phase of the ethanolic extract of Ainsliaea yunnanensis. Their structures were identified by NMR, IR and HR-ESIMS spectroscopic methods, and compound 1 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. All the compounds were tested for their cytotoxic, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 showed very significant selective cytotoxic...

Phytochemical investigation of Melodinus fusiformis led to a new aspidosperma-aspidosperma bisindole alkaloid (BIA), bis-19β-hydroxyvenalstonidine (1), together with three known BIAs (2–4). The structures were established by extensive analysis of their HRESIMS, NMR data, and comparing with the reported data. BIA 1 is an almost symmetrical structure, linked by C3–C14’ bond, while BIAs 2–4 are reported for the first time from the plant. The cytotoxic, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities of BIAs 1–4 were evaluated in vitro....

A new biflavonoids, (2R,2''R)-7-O-methyl-2,3,2'',3''-tetrahydrorobustaflavone (1), along with five known flavonoids (2-6) were isolated from the MeOH extract of Aster tataricus. Among them, compounds 1-2 were the C-3'-C-6'' type biflavonoids obtained from the genus Aster for the first time. The structures and absolute configurations of compound 1 was confirmed based on extensive spectroscopic and circular dichroism analyses. Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against seven human cancer A549, HepG2, PC3, DU145, MCF-7, LOVO and NCI-H1975 cell lines....

Phytochemical investigation of Melodinus fusiformis led to a new aspidosperma-aspidosperma bisindole alkaloid (BIA), bis-19β-hydroxyvenalstonidine (1), together with three known BIAs (2–4). The structures were established by extensive analysis of their HRESIMS, NMR data, and comparing with the reported data. BIA 1 is an almost symmetrical structure, linked by C3–C14’ bond, while BIAs 2–4 are reported for the first time from the plant. The cytotoxic, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory activities of BIAs 1–4 were evaluated in vitro....

Two new lanostane-type triterpenoids, ganoderenicfys A (1) and B (2), together with six related known terpenoids (3–8), were isolated and identified from the fruiting body of Ganoderma applanatum. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of detailed interpretation of their NMR and HRESIMS data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. All of the isolated compounds were evaluated for their proangiogenic activities...

The objective of this work was to investigate the chemical compositions of the essential oil (EO) extracted from Senecio scandens by hydrodistillation and their insecticidal activities against Tribolium castaneum, Lasioderma serricorne and Liposceis bostrychophila. The chemical profile of the EO were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 20 compounds were identified which accounted for 88.03% of the total EO. Five major compounds identified in the EO were assayed against the three stored product insects....

To investigate the expression and sources of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein in the maternal–fetal interface of patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA), and further to verify the role of HMGB1 in the etiology of URSA. 55 women at early pregnancy with URSA and 55 women undergoing selective termination of normal early pregnancy as control were included. The abortion tissues including villi and decidua were collected. The expression of HMGB1, CD45, CK7,...

The impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) on the progression of renal function in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) with nephrotic syndrome (NS) patients have not yet been reported, we sought to investigate the incidence, clinical features and prognosis of AKI in iMN with NS patients and determine clinical predictors for progression from AKI to advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage. We analyzed clinical and pathological data of iMN with NS patients retrospectively collected from Jan...

The incidence and the risk factors of in-hospitalized acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients hospitalized for atrial fibrillation (AF) were unclear. The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-AF (CCC-AF) project is an ongoing registry and quality improvement project, with 240 hospitals recruited across China. We selected 4527 patients hospitalized for AF registered in the CCC-AF from January 2015 to January 2019. Patients were divided into the AKI and non-AKI groups according to the changes...

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been demonstrated relating to vascular and inflammatory regulations not only the nerve systems. As the anti-inflammation factor and the most potent vasodilator, the CGRP holds therapeutic potentials for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases which was, however, limited by its peptide nature and short half-life. With advantages in improving the stability, circulation time and protection from degradation, the nanoparticles were promising as delivery carriers for the peptide. Nevertheless, few nanoparticulate...

The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has been demonstrated relating to vascular and inflammatory regulations not only the nerve systems. As the anti-inflammation factor and the most potent vasodilator, the CGRP holds therapeutic potentials for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases which was, however, limited by its peptide nature and short half-life. With advantages in improving the stability, circulation time and protection from degradation, the nanoparticles were promising as delivery carriers for the peptide. Nevertheless, few nanoparticulate...

The principal goal of the present investigation was to enterprise new and effective drug delivery vesicle for the sustained delivery of local anesthetic lidocaine hydrochloride (LDC), using a novel combination of copolymeric hydrogel with tetrahydroxyborate (COP–THB) to improve bioactivity and therapeutic potential. To support this contention, the physical and mechanical properties, rheological characteristics, and component release of candidate formulations were investigated. An optimized formulation of COP–THB containing LDC to an upper maximum concentration of 1.5%...

Macroautophagy/autophagy plays an important role during the development of human cancer. BECN1 (beclin 1), a core player in autophagy regulation, is downregulated in many kinds of malignancy. The underlying mechanism, however, has not been fully illuminated. Here, we found that CUL3 (cullin 3), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, could interact with BECN1 and promote the K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation of this protein; In addition, CUL3 led to a decrease in autophagic activity through downregulating BECN1. We...

Mitochondria are the main cellular energy powerhouses and supply most of the energy in the form of ATP to fuel essential neuronal functions through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). In Alzheimer disease (AD), metabolic and mitochondrial disruptions are an early feature preceding any histopathological and clinical manifestations. Mitochondrial malfunction is also linked to synaptic defects in early AD. Mitophagy serves as a key cellular quality control mechanism involving sequestration of damaged mitochondria within autophagosomes and their subsequent...

Mitochondria are the main cellular energy powerhouses and supply most of the energy in the form of ATP to fuel essential neuronal functions through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). In Alzheimer disease (AD), metabolic and mitochondrial disruptions are an early feature preceding any histopathological and clinical manifestations. Mitochondrial malfunction is also linked to synaptic defects in early AD. Mitophagy serves as a key cellular quality control mechanism involving sequestration of damaged mitochondria within autophagosomes and their subsequent...

Thymoma is the most common primary mass in anterior mediastinum. Although associated with low malignancy, it is often accompanied by myasthenia gravis resulting in poor prognosis. Due to the dual factors of tumor immune tolerance and autoimmune reaction, it is urgent to understand the immune status of MG with thymoma. In this study, RNA sequencing data were obtained from the TCGA and GEO cohorts to identify differentially expressed messenger RNAs and infiltrated immune cells. A...

Cancer stem cell (CSC) has been confirmed to trigger tumor occurrence and progression and CSC can develop strategies to maintain a lower reactive oxygen species (ROS) level compared to cancer cells. However, the mechanisms contributing to ROS homeostasis in CSC are still lacking key elements. In the current study, we found that reductive redox states and ROS levels were suppressed in non-adherent spheres formed by non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, which were confirmed to...

Pancreatic cancer is associated with a high mortality rate, and the prognosis is positively related to immune status. In this study, we constructed a prognostic signature from survival- and immune-related genes (IRGs) to guide treatment and assess prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer. The transcriptomic data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and IRGs were extracted from the ImmPort database. Univariate and LASSO regression analysis were used to obtain survival-related IRGs. Finally,...

Lactate blunts the anticancer immune response in breast cancer (BC). However, little is known about the exact effect of lactate transporters such as monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) on immunotherapy. In this study, we investigated the expression status and prognostic value of MCT4 in BC through large-scale transcriptome data. Our results showed that MCT4 was overexpressed in BC, particularly in the basal-like molecular subtype. Overexpression of MCT4 was significantly correlated with high BC lesion grade and...

Colorectal cancer is a common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Thus, there is an urgent need to determine the mechanism of progression of colorectal cancer. In this study, we investigated the function and mechanism of long non-coding RNA LINC00958, providing a new biomarker for colorectal cancer. The expression of LINC00958, miR-3064-5p, and LEM domain containing 1 (LEMD1) in colorectal cancer tissues and cell lines was analyzed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The...